Minority politicos threaten redistricting appeal

Associated Press

Published 12:08 am, Saturday, February 4, 2012

AUSTIN — Seven minority Texas lawmakers Friday, including San Antonio's Charlie Gonzalez, threatened to appeal any redistricting deal that doesn't include all the minority groups involved in the lawsuit over the state's political maps.

Nine groups sued to block legislative and congressional maps drawn by the Republican-dominated Legislature. Those maps have failed to win judicial approval, so temporary maps are needed pending the outcome of cases being fought in San Antonio and Washington.

That has angered the groups not invited to the negotiating table, and the seven Democratic members of Congress wrote the letter to demand their inclusion or warn of further legal wrangling.

“If one goes forward and negotiates an agreement, it should be with all the parties at the table if the desire of the state is to avoid an appeal,” the letter said.

The federal court in San Antonio set a Monday deadline for all sides to reach a compromise on Texas' legislative and congressional maps, or see the April 3 primary election further delayed. The letter makes is clear that if all groups are not included in the talks over the weekend, they will file an appeal against a compromise and make an April 3 primary impossible.

Republicans are anxious to hold their primaries as soon as possible. The vote has already been delayed once from March 6, and Texas is losing the chance to play a role in choosing the Republican presidential nominee.

Both political parties are concerned about possibly delaying their state conventions in June if the elections are delayed further.

“We want to join with you in making it possible to have an April election that you desire but we must insist that the interests of our various communities be protected,” the letter to Abbott added.

The attorney general's office confirmed it had received the letter and spokeswoman Lauren Bean said they were still reviewing it.